Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Examples

Program-level public information and outreach is important to drawing attention to the safety and mobility issues in work zones and encouraging drivers to be vigilant while driving through work zones. While several States have their own work zone outreach programs, there are also various programs available at the national level.

Florida DOT Public Service Announcement - Developed for National Work Zone Awareness Week 2008, letting people know that "Work Zone Safety - It's Everyone's Job." This PSA was aired for 90 days statewide starting in April 2008 through an agreement with the Florida Association of Broadcasters.

Texas DOT YouTube Channel - Includes numerous work zone safety videos, including "Don't Be a Statistic", which focuses on the fact that 4 out of 5 fatalities in Texas highway work zones are drivers, and "Work Zone Safety - What One Thing?", which has several construction workers describing the one thing they want drivers to do when driving through work zones.

Virginia DOT Work Zone Videos - Several videos, including stories from VDOT workers and a Virginia State Trooper about their experiences working in work zones.

Virginia DOT: A Sudden Change of Plans (WMV 4.6MB) - This 7 minute video is an update of a North Carolina DOT video that illustrates how driver distraction in and around a work zone can fatality injure a worker, changing the lives of the driver and the worker's family.

California Example

As part of the "Be Work Zone Alert" campaign, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the California Office of Traffic Safety are asking drivers to "Be work zone alert" to help save lives on the roadway. The campaign features numerous public service announcements and nearly 60 billboards across the state on which the children of highway workers remind drivers to stay alert in California work zones. The campaign is funded with highway maintenance funds and a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Illinois DOT Example

The Illinois DOT launched a work zone safety campaign, entitled "Embrace the Orange", in response to an increase in work zone fatalities. The campaign's goals are to reduce work zone crashes and fatalities on Illinois roadways. The Embrace the Orange web site provides information about how to be safe in work zones, work zone standards and policies, information about photo speed enforcement and work zone crash statistics. Visitors to the web site are also encouraged to do their part to help save lives and sign the Work Zone Safety Pledge. The pledge asks motorists not to text and drive or talk on the phone in work zones. It also encourages motorists to be safe in work zones by obeying the posted speed limits at all times, pay attention to changing conditions and be courteous to other motorists.

Iowa DOT Example

On July 1, 2008 Iowa's fines for speeding in a work zone significantly increased. Speeding up to 10 mph over the legal limit costs drivers $150, 20 mph - $300, 25 mph - $500, and the fine over 25 is $1,000. The effort to increase work zone speeding penalties was led by an Iowa Department of Transportation maintenance worker who was struck by a vehicle while performing flagging operations. Iowa created a public outreach campaign to notify drivers about the new fines. The campaign includes a web site that provides background information about the activities leading up to implementation of the fines, a fact sheet, news releases, and new highway signs.

Missouri DOT Example

Missouri DOT (MoDOT) uses an online survey to gain driver feedback on its state highway work zones to evaluate visibility and traffic flow. Travelers can comment on advanced warning, speed limit, travel timeliness, and safety of the work zone. Compilation of the 1,191 surveys received between April and June 2011 resulted in a positive satisfaction rating of 96 percent for work zone traffic flow. Similar results were found for the first quarter of 2011 and overall, this is a four percent increase from the 92 percent customer satisfaction reported for 2010. MoDOT publishes the results as part of their ongoing performance monitoring program (MoDOT Tracker).

North Carolina DOT Example

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) created its Work Zone Safety Program in 1989 to promote safety and reduce fatalities in work zones. This program develops and disseminates promotional materials about work zone safety; develops public service announcements and videos; and provides materials to help educators teach about work zone safety. The program has its own mascots, Buddy Barrel and Connie Cone, who appear in promotional materials and are available for events. NCDOT developed a manual that provides tips and ideas on how to best use the mascots to generate exposure at events. Program initiatives include Operation Drive Smart, an effort to reduce the number of collisions in North Carolina's work zones; a video and other materials aimed at truck drivers, developed in partnership with Carolinas Associated General Contractors and the North Carolina Trucking Association; and a work zone safety poster contest for children.

Oregon DOT Example

The Oregon DOT (ODOT) has a work zone safety program that is aimed at reducing the number of injury and fatal traffic crashes that occur in highway work zones in Oregon. The program includes engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services. The ODOT work zone safety web site has public service announcements, facts and statistics, and brochures and flyers that provide safety tips for workers and drivers. In 2007, Oregon promoted work zone safety on a giant 48-foot by 18-foot curtain draped over ODOT's fleet trailer. In big, bold letters the bright orange curtain said, "Slow Down. Better Roads Ahead." The fleet trailer traveled the state and was also available for safety fairs and other special events.

Texas DOT Example

TxDOT has a work zone safety web site that provides driver safety tips, facts and statistics about work zones in Texas, and public service announcements. It also includes print materials such as brochures, fact sheets, and posters, providing work zone safety information for motorists and workers.

Virginia DOT Example

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has a work zone safety web site that includes information on how VDOT observes National Work Zone Awareness Week; audio, video, and transcripts for several public service announcements; work zone statistics; and informational materials for kids and teens, including a teacher's guide that contains resources, information and activities for work zone awareness. As indicated on the web site, VDOT puts strong emphasis on work zone outreach to teenage drivers, having reached out to more than 97,000 teens since the statewide outreach began in 2003.